Six years after the #EndSARS protests brought police brutality into the national spotlight, Nigeria continues to grapple with allegations of unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and excessive use of force, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of reforms introduced to transform the Nigeria Police Force.
Despite the enactment of the Police Act 2020, revised police regulations and new training initiatives, legal practitioners say the reforms have yet to translate into fundamental changes in police operations and relations between officers and citizens.
The #EndSARS protests of October 2020 were driven by demands to end abuses associated with the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), including arbitrary arrests, extortion, torture and alleged extrajudicial killings. The demonstrations subsequently evolved into a broader campaign for police accountability, respect for human rights and improved governance.
Following the protests, the Federal Government disbanded SARS and announced measures aimed at reforming policing. However, lawyers and human rights advocates argue that implementation, accountability and institutional culture remain major obstacles to meaningful change.
Police Act 2020, new regulations yet to deliver lasting change
One of the most significant developments in Nigeria’s police reform process was the enactment of the Police Act 2020, which replaced the Police Act of 1943.
The legislation established accountability, transparency, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, professionalism, community partnership and responsiveness to the public as core principles of policing.
It also provides for Police Complaints Response Units at Force Headquarters and across state commands and the Federal Capital Territory. The units are empowered to receive complaints about police misconduct, including allegations involving deaths, serious injuries and other gross human rights violations.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) also retains constitutional responsibilities relating to police personnel, including recruitment, promotion and discipline.
However, the commission has identified inadequate funding as a major constraint on its ability to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
The Nigeria Police Force has also introduced a revised training curriculum to replace the model used over the previous 28 years. The programme is intended to improve practical policing skills and prepare officers to respond to emerging crimes involving technology and artificial intelligence.
Another phase of the reform process followed the gazetting of new Nigeria Police Regulations.
The Federal Ministry of Police Affairs said the regulations were designed to modernise police operations, strengthen disciplinary and oversight mechanisms, improve recruitment and career progression, and reinforce human rights standards.
The police also described the regulations as a framework for professional, accountable and rights-based policing, promising to incorporate them into training and operational structures.
Nevertheless, the introduction of new laws and regulations has not automatically resolved longstanding concerns about police conduct. The gap between official reform policies and citizens’ experiences remains a central challenge.
Amnesty International raises fresh concerns over alleged police abuses
Concerns about police accountability have persisted in the years since #EndSARS.
Amnesty International has alleged that officers attached to the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command were involved in extrajudicial killings, torture, ill-treatment of detainees and extortion.
According to the organisation, its investigation uncovered allegations that detainees were removed from their cells and killed, while others were allegedly tortured to extract confessional statements.
The allegations have renewed questions about the effectiveness of existing safeguards against police abuse and the mechanisms available to investigate and punish misconduct.
The concerns also extend to the policing of public demonstrations.
During the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, Amnesty International alleged that police officers used excessive force against demonstrators, including live ammunition and tear gas. The organisation reported that at least 24 people were killed during demonstrations across several states.
The police and other authorities disputed aspects of the allegations.
The incidents revived concerns about the use of force against protesters and whether the lessons of #EndSARS had resulted in lasting changes to police operational practices.
While allegations against particular officers or units do not establish that the entire police force operates in the same manner, they underscore the importance of independent investigations, transparent disciplinary procedures and effective remedies for victims.
Unlawful arrests, torture persist, says lawyer
The Convener of the Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria (CJNN), Nathaniel Ngwu, said unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and excessive use of force remained concerns in police operations six years after the #EndSARS protests.
Ngwu warned that police reform would remain ineffective unless the Nigeria Police Force incorporated new policies and legal safeguards into its daily operations.
He attributed the slow pace of change to a combination of corruption, inadequate funding, poor training, weak accountability mechanisms and the failure to translate reform policies into operational practices.
According to him, meaningful reform must begin within the institution, with officers accepting the need for change and applying existing legal provisions when interacting with members of the public.
“From the look of things, the reforms have not been integrated into the system and operations. It is only written on paper,” he said.
Ngwu identified inadequate funding as a major obstacle to effective policing, arguing that some police stations lacked the resources needed to conduct investigations and perform other essential duties.
He said some officers lacked operational vehicles and basic writing materials, leaving police stations dependent on funds provided by members of the public.
According to the lawyer, complainants were sometimes expected to provide money to facilitate investigations and arrests, a practice he said undermined the independence of police investigations and created opportunities for extortion.
“If a complaint is made, and it is not thoroughly investigated by the police independently, the truth can never be seen from the whole process,” he said.
Ngwu also cited cases in which disputes between neighbours had allegedly resulted in police intervention and arrests, raising concerns about the use of coercive measures in matters that might be handled differently.
He questioned the practice of arresting individuals solely on the basis of accusations without adequately examining the circumstances, warning that such conduct could undermine citizens’ rights.
The lawyer further pointed to allegations of intimidation during the extraction of confessional statements.
He noted that courts sometimes conduct trials within trials to determine whether confessional statements were obtained voluntarily, arguing that such proceedings highlight the importance of preventing coercion during police investigations.
On training, Ngwu criticised what he described as the unequal distribution of training opportunities.
He argued that officers who interact directly with citizens at checkpoints, during arrests and in investigations should receive regular human rights training rather than having such opportunities concentrated among administrative personnel.
He called for compulsory and continuous training for operational officers, including investigators and personnel responsible for taking statements.
He also proposed that officers who receive specialised training should be deployed in positions where they can apply their knowledge and share it with colleagues.
Ngwu questioned the effectiveness of existing accountability mechanisms, asking who would ensure compliance when police authorities failed to implement court orders against them.
He called for independent monitoring of police conduct and effective enforcement of judgments, including orders requiring compensation for victims of abuse.
He also urged authorities to ensure effective implementation of legislation prohibiting torture, warning that legal safeguards would have little impact without meaningful consequences for violations.
Chris Okeke calls for separation of Attorney-General and Justice Minister roles
The Managing Partner of Chris Okeke & Co., Chris Okeke (SAN), called for the separation of the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as part of broader efforts to address police brutality and improve access to justice in Nigeria.
Okeke said the existing arrangement placed excessive responsibilities on the occupants of the two offices, potentially undermining their ability to ensure that Nigerians obtained justice when needed.
He identified police brutality as a major obstacle to access to justice, noting that victims often faced structural barriers, including poverty, limited awareness of their rights and inadequate enforcement of existing laws.
According to him, police brutality occurs when officers exceed their lawful powers and victims are subsequently prevented from obtaining effective remedies for the violations they suffer.
He said some Nigerians could not challenge abuses because they lacked the financial resources to pursue legal action, while others were unaware of their rights.
Okeke also identified gaps in existing laws and poor implementation of legal safeguards as factors undermining efforts to protect citizens from police excesses.
Citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), he highlighted provisions requiring magistrates to visit police divisions within their jurisdictions at specified intervals.
The visits are intended to help ensure that police officers exercise their powers appropriately and that magistrates intervene where necessary.
However, he referred to reports of instances in which police officers had failed to cooperate with magistrates, raising concerns about the implementation of safeguards designed to prevent abuse.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also called for changes to the process of appointing the Inspector-General of Police, arguing that the existing arrangement did not adequately serve the interests of Nigerians.
He identified police recruitment as another critical area requiring reform, stressing the need to scrutinise recruitment procedures and the qualities expected of prospective officers.
According to Okeke, temperament, training, background and upbringing should be considered in recruitment because of their potential implications for officers’ conduct and relationships with citizens.
He also raised the question of who polices the police, arguing that institutional accountability must remain central to efforts to address misconduct.
Nwobi demands end to colonial policing mentality
The Principal Partner at Tower of David Solicitors & Advocates, Chuks Nwobi, called for fundamental changes to the Nigeria Police Force, including a shift away from colonial-era policing attitudes towards a service-oriented culture.
He said effective reform required more than legislation, stressing that institutional culture, professional discipline and enforcement of existing laws were essential to addressing abuses of police powers.
According to Nwobi, elements of a colonial policing mentality that emphasised control, coercion and suppression remained embedded in law enforcement institutions.
He argued that policing in a constitutional democracy should focus on protecting citizens, upholding the law and respecting fundamental rights.
“We must move away from a force mentality to a service mentality,” he said, adding that policing should reflect professionalism, integrity, accountability and service to the public.
Nwobi also identified delays in the administration of justice as a major obstacle, noting that congested courts and slow proceedings often discouraged citizens from seeking legal redress.
He proposed accelerated judicial attention for serious human rights cases, particularly those involving unlawful detention, torture and police brutality.
The lawyer suggested that such cases could be determined within three to six months, subject to constitutional requirements for a fair hearing.
He also called for measures to discourage unnecessary adjournments and a review of the workload and jurisdiction of appellate courts.
Nwobi proposed limiting the Supreme Court’s workload to matters of national importance, constitutional interpretation and issues with significant public consequences, arguing that cases capable of effective resolution at lower appellate levels should not unnecessarily burden the apex court.
On public awareness, he said citizens who lacked knowledge of their rights were more vulnerable to abuse by law enforcement officers.
He maintained that laws prohibiting unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and arbitrary detention would have limited impact without effective investigations and appropriate sanctions for proven misconduct.
“Where there is a genuine complaint supported by evidence, the offending officer must be identified, investigated and, if liable, sanction must be undiscriminatorily applied,” he said.
Nwobi warned that accountability would remain weak if officers believed that proven misconduct would carry no meaningful consequences.
He urged the Nigerian Bar Association to sustain its advocacy for access to justice, professional standards and adequate remuneration for legal services.
He also called for sustained public legal education to help citizens understand their fundamental rights, obligations and the institutions available to protect them.
On recruitment, Nwobi said the police should prioritise candidates who demonstrate sound judgement, integrity, discipline and psychological suitability.
He argued that recruitment processes that fail to adequately assess character and competence could contribute to institutional problems.
Accountability remains the biggest test of police reform
Six years after #EndSARS, Nigeria has introduced legislative, regulatory and training measures intended to improve policing. Yet lawyers continue to question whether those reforms have sufficiently changed officers’ conduct and the experiences of citizens who encounter the police.
Their concerns centre on the implementation of existing laws, adequate funding, operational training, transparent recruitment, independent oversight and the enforcement of court judgments.
The challenge is no longer simply the absence of reform policies. It is whether the institutions responsible for policing can consistently uphold those policies, investigate credible allegations of abuse and impose appropriate sanctions where misconduct is established.
For many Nigerians, the enduring demand of #EndSARS remains a police service that protects rather than intimidates, investigates rather than extorts, and respects the rights of every citizen.
Until accountability becomes a consistent feature of police operations, the promise of lasting reform will remain under scrutiny.